Sad to hear about USAR, sounds like they're going the way of IROC. Also unfortunate for Bobby Hamilton, running 15th even while missing a couple races. Looks like the tough economy is bringing out more start and parks to try and make 10 grand.

As a side note, maybe the FCC can fine ESPN for only covering certain chase drivers, and raise money to sponsor a second car.

2 things the print media have not, and likely will not, write about are (1) the ESPN broadcast deficiencies and their effect on ratings and (2) how the economic downturn is affecting the print coverage of NASCAR and other sports. Dustin Long writes for at least 2 and I believe 3 (or more) newspapers, and I suspect shared reporters is likely to increase for NASCAR and other sports in light of increased travel costs, reduced newspaper ad revenue and subscriptions, and consolidation in the newspaper industry. Mulhern did not attend 3 or 4 races this year and I believe David Poole missed at least 2. As I recall, Ed Hinton lost his job with the paper in Florida (Orlando?) because it was going to reduce its budget for coverage of out of state events. As the significance of newspaper coverage diminishes, the articles seem to be tending toward more negative coverage to try to attract attention. Apparently it is still believed that yellow journalism sells. On top of all that you have the Evil SPorts Network whose multiple platforms require masses of content each day and so cannot be criticized - since they might just need another writer.

OK, I wasn't going to bring it up but I was at Charlotte. Jessica Simpson was terrible. We thought the speakers were broke but all the other speedway sound was good. I'm sure she was very expensive & NOT worth it

i.e. Jessica Simpson: Perhaps we are meant to infer that the new leadership at LMS was responsible for booking her, and that if Humpy were still in charge, that wouldn't have happened? That's what I got out of it.

I guess since the top dog and dogette no longer work at LMS, Jessica Simpson is going to be the new type of entertainment. Didn't I read somewhere that LMS might lose a date? This may have sealed their fate.